Royals Report: 4 Things About Breaking The Losing Streak

The KC Royals FINALLY broke their eight-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago White Sox 4-1 at U.S. Cellular Field Saturday afternoon.

DING DONG THE LOSING STREAK IS DEAD!!!

The Royals improved to 31-30 and remained 3.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central while moving into second place in division. The White Sox fell to 31-31 and four games behind Cleveland.

I must confess the last nine days (eight losses in a row plus an off day Thursday) seemed like they would last forever. Watching games was a CHORE, and did nothing but made me angry and frustrated—until I decided to stop letting them affect me that way.

For a fan, it’s pretty easy to pull back and turn off the TV, or computer. For a player, you simply have to grind through the road trip from hell. And, this time, your Dads get to watch since the team brought their players fathers along for the ride for the team’s annual Father’s Day trip.

I don’t care how old and mature you are. You don’t want to suck at your job in front of your Dad.

So today, everything that went haywire for nine days suddenly fell in place. Starter Danny Duffy dominated. The offense scored four runs, and the bullpen held the lead while finishing out the final three innings of the game.

Now that the ordeal is over, you wonder why it took so long.

On to my observations about Saturday’s win:

Next: Danny Duffy

4) Danny Duffy Is Emerging As The Team’s Ace 

The KC Royals need a staff ace and Danny Duffy seems to be becoming that guy. He’s got the stuff, headlined by a fastball that touches 97-mph to go with a slider, change, and occasional hard sinker. But, more importantly, he now has the approach and attitude to carry the role.

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He’s no longer a bundle of nervous energy with no place to go on the mound. He’s harnessed his competitive drive into performance. Duffy also goes right after hitters instead of nibbling like in the past. Though he walked three hitters on Saturday, he’s only issued five free passes in his last 10 appearances—a span that has covered 35.2 innings pitched (going back to before joining the rotation).

Duffy struck out 10 while only needing 88 pitches through 6.0 innings, Yordano Ventura could learn a thing or two from Duffy.

At 27, Duffy is coming right into his prime and he’s got the talent to headline a rotation. If he continues his recent trajectory, Duffy could become the first true ace drafted and developed by Dayton Moore’s “Process”.

It’s about time.

Next: Alcides Escobar

2)  Ned Yost DID Bat Alcides Escobar At No. 2, AGAIN

This morning, I simply could not believe that Ned Yost chose to move Alcides Escobar off the leadoff spot, only to move him to no. 2. Given that the KC Royals scored more than one run for the first time in six games, I expected that he’d come back with the same lineup on Saturday.

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I was right.

I must confess, I enjoy typing that phrase. Aside from the self-congratulations, with the Kansas City Royals WINNING on Saturday, I expect to see this lineup continue through the foreseeable future. Thus, Saturday’s win will apparently lock in yet another mistaken lineup position for Alcides Escobar.

Will I ever be able to watch a KC Royals game without having to see Escobar get more at bats than players like Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain?

I’m certain it will happen sooner than I’d like, if only because many of the Kansas City Royals key players are hitting free-agency after the 2017 season.

I swear, it’s just like Groundhog Day.

Next: Bullpen Use

1) Yes, Using The Best Bullpen In Baseball Is A Good Idea

Twice, Ned Yost had the opportunity to use the best bullpen in baseball during the eight-game slump. The first time came against Cleveland with the KC Royals holding a 4-3 lead in the 9th inning, poised to win their seventh straight game.

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Yost chose to rest Wade Davis rather than use him for a third straight game, and saw Joakim Soria blow the Royals first game after a seventh inning lead for the 2016 season. Five days ago, Duffy had held the Orioles scoreless through six innings with a precarious 1-0 lead. Yost sent Duffy back to the mound in the bottom of the seventh, only to watch the Orioles blast two solo home runs on their way to a 4-1 comeback victory.

This time, Ned Yost wasn’t taking any chances and called on his three-headed monster despite Duffy’s low pitch count (88).

It’s about freaking time. Failing to use the bullpen when he had the chance to end a horrific cold snap would have been gross negligence. Making this mistake five days ago was bad enough. If Yost had repeated it today, I think I might have turned my flat-screen TV into a piñata.

Next: Could Trying To Fill No. 1 Pitcher Role Cause Yordano Ventura To Fail?

So, KC Royals fans. The baseball world is realigned to its proper axis. You can watch a Kansas City Royals game without undue anxiety, stress, or frustration. Maybe you can even smile at children again, and pet the dog.

That’s a relief.